Monrovia – In an effort to clampdown on the importation of illicit drugs in the country, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has arrested two foreign nationals with over 3.5 kilograms of cocaine and heroin.
Report by Edwin G. Genoway, Jr. [email protected]
“He cleverly and criminally concealed in the handles of female hair brushes and combs the illicit substance and placed same among assorted female hair accessories in his travelling bag”- Acting Director General Gwee K. Porkpah, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency
At a news conference Tuesday in Monrovia, LDEA Acting Director General Gwee K. Porkpah revealed that on Sunday August 14, 2016, two suspects, Toni Mendes and Vennia Hwedenga both foreign nationals were arrested by officers assigned at the Roberts International Airport.
The female suspect, age 26, bearing a Zimbabwean passport was arrested with a huge quantity of heroin valued at over 94-thousand US-dollars.
The woman who is identified as Vennia Hwedenga was picked up by agents of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency upon landing at the Roberts International Airport on board Kenyan Airways.
While the male suspect age 35, identified as Toni Mendes, a Guinean Bissau National was also arrested after landing at the RIA on board Royal Air Maroc with huge quantity of cocaine with the street value of over nine hundred thousand US-dollars.
But the Authorities at of Royal Air Morac have clarified that the airline is not in the know that the suspect was carrying drugs onboard their airline. An official of the Airline who refused to be identified told FrontPageAfrica that the suspect came from Brazil in transit to Morocco.
The Royal Air Morac unidentified official noted that it is not the responsibility of the airline, saying the authorities from Brazil should be held responsible for allowing a passenger to get onboard the plane.
The Authority of the Kenya Airline could not speak to the issue as they promised to do proper checking on the details of the passenger before coming out with a statement.
Meanwhile the both suspects admitted to the crime but with some conditions. The Guinean Bissau National, a male explained that he was constrained to sell the drugs in order to cater to his eight month pregnant Liberian woman currently based in Brazil.
“It is not my will to sell this, I am constrained to do that to support my pregnant woman left behind in Brazil,” he said.
Suspect Mendes, cleverly and criminally concealed in the handle of a female hair brushes the substance and placed them among assorted female hair accessories in his traveling bag.
While the female suspect was apprehended after her belongings were searched and discovered to contain an unknown substance in a black plastic bag.
LDEA Acting Director General Gwee K. Porkpah said suspect Mendes, Bissau passport numbered is AAIN67114.
“He cleverly and criminally concealed in the handles of female hair brushes and combs the illicit substance and placed same among assorted female hair accessories in his travelling bag,” the acting LDEA Director General said.
The substance was tested in the presence of the suspect and witnessed by an array of LDEA personnel and UNPOL counterparts.
“It was tested and proven positive of cocaine, weighing 2 kilograms and 368 grams with street monetary value of L$15,912,960.00 (US$165,760.00),” he indicated.
The acting Director General further revealed that on the same day, suspect Vennia Hwedenga, with passport number CN542394 arrived at the RIA on board Kenya Airways.
“She was apprehended after her belongings were searched and discovered to contain an unknown substance in black plastic bag,” he added.
According to him, the substance when tested yielded positive of heroin weighing 3 kilograms and 142 grams with street value of L$9,048,960.00 (US$94,260.00).
He said the suspects are currently being detained and are undergoing thorough investigation pending court trail.
“LDEA which is an agency of the government of Liberia responsible for the counter of all illicit drugs within our borders will continue to remain unbending regardless of whosoever is involved in this dangerous trade and we want to reaffirm to the general public of our preparedness to make the country a drug nation especially when full security is placed in our hands,” the acting Director General assured.
He also used the occasion to call on all Liberians and foreign residents alike to report any information regarding drug activities within the territorial confines of the country as the agency will not leave any stone unturned to bring perpetrators to justice.
Liberia is not new to drug trade as many individuals have been arrested in the past bringing drugs to the country. In some instances higher security officers were said to have aided these drugs dealers.